Online or offline interface?

[Uncle Gizmo]

I’m noticing a tendency for people to want to put business functions online, web interfaces if you like, it’s not necessary for the interface to be on-line just the data.

So what am I thinking?

I’m thinking a better approach would be to have or desktop application like MS Access or VB.net which links to online data stored in possibly MS SQL, mySql, some other proprietary storage medium. This would enhance the security, and another possibility would be to encrypt the online data, providing a means of decrypting it in the windows application.
Just wonder what others thought about this?

 

[Galaxiom]

Online apps run in browsers are becoming increasingly popular because they are platform independent. Run them on phones, iPad, Mac, PC without having to compile different versions. Moreover no distribution whatsoever is required.

It is the way things are going. Compiled applications and web base apps will eventually converge. Microsoft has already revealed their software development platfom in Windows 8 will be based on programming in Javascript and formatting with CSS.

Obviously this will simplify the production of online applications from the same code. Anyone who is wants to keep up with the game should be working on gaining skills in these languages as a matter of urgency.